Amazônia Groove is a 2018 Brazilian documentary film about the music of northern Brazil and the Amazon region of South America. Directed and co-written by Bruno Murtinho, the film premiered at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival (Festival do Rio) in November 2018.[1] It was released theatrically in Brazil on 6 June 2019.[2]

Amazônia Groove
Promotional release poster
Directed byBruno Murtinho
Written by
  • Leonardo Gudel
  • Bruno Murtinho
Produced byLeonardo Edde
Starring
  • Dona Onete
  • Manoel Cordeiro
  • Sebastião Tapajós
  • Albery Albuquerque
  • Mestre Damasceno
  • Waldo Squash
  • Paulo André Barata
  • MG Calibre
  • Gina Lobrista
CinematographyJacques Cheuiche
Production
company
Urca Filmes
Distributed byPagu Pictures [pt]
Release dates
  • November 2018 (2018-11) (Festival do Rio)
  • 6 June 2019 (2019-06-06) (Brazil)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryBrazil
LanguagePortuguese

Synopsis

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Amazônia Groove showcases musicians living in northern Brazil—including the state of Pará[2]—in and around the region known as the Amazon basin, in South America. Among the musicians featured are singer and composer Dona Onete;[2] rapper MG Caliber;[3] guitarist Manoel Cordeiro;[2][3] singer-songwriter Mestre Damasceno;[2] singer Gina Lobrista;[4] DJ and musician Waldo Squash;[5] and guitarist Sebastião Tapajós.[3]

Production

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According to director Bruno Murtinho, Amazônia Groove was conceived by a South American music producer who sent Murtinho MP3 files of music originating from the Amazon region.[6] A fan of music videos produced by Murtinho, the music producer suggested that Murtinho write and direct a documentary about musicians in and around Brazil.[6]

Release and reception

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Amazônia Groove had its premiere at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival (Festival do Rio) in November 2018.[1] In March 2019, it screened at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, United States,[7] where it won the ZEISS Cinematography Award.[8]

Amazônia Groove received a theatrical release in Brazil on 6 June 2019.[2]

Sérgio Alpendre of Folha de S.Paulo gave the film a score of three out of five stars.[4] Michael King of The Austin Chronicle commended the range of genres showcased in the film;[5] he wrote that, "the various performances are brief but often magical," and that Murtinho's "vivid recapitulation of a few evocative musical genres of the region inevitably leaves a viewer thirsting for more."[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Festival do Rio 2018: Amazônia é um dos temas que surgem na seleção desse ano". O Globo (in Portuguese). 5 November 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Sobota, Guilherme (6 June 2019). "'Amazônia Groove' explora sons típicos da região no Pará". Terra.com.br (in Portuguese). Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Schiavon, Fabiana (15 June 2019). "Diretor de 'Amazônia Groove' diz que filme é menos sobre música e mais espiritual e sensorial" (in Portuguese). Folhapress. Retrieved 14 March 2023 – via Yahoo! News.
  4. ^ a b Alpendre, Sérgio (6 June 2019). "'Amazônia Groove' é bom para quem ainda curte a boa e genuína música popular brasileira". Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  5. ^ a b c King, Michael (9 March 2019). "Film Review: Amazônia Groove". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b Aziz, Neha (13 February 2019). "Take A Deep Dive Into Bruno Murtinho's Amazonia Groove – SXSW Filmmaker In Focus". South by Southwest. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  7. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (16 January 2019). "SXSW: Seth Rogen/Charlize Theron Comedy, Matthew McConaughey's 'The Beach Bum' Among 2019 Feature Lineup". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  8. ^ McNary, Dave (12 March 2019). "SXSW Awards: 'Alice,' For Sama' Win Top Prizes". Variety. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
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